Keynote speaker Lemn Sissay reflects on themes of hope and connection as the SoA prepares for its first in-venue awards ceremony since 2019.
The BAFTA-nominated, international prize-winning poet, writer, playwright and broadcaster Lemn Sissay OBE will deliver the keynote speech at the 2022 Society of Authors’ Awards on 1 June 2022 at Southwark Cathedral.
Lemn will join the night’s host Joanne Harris and a panel of celebrated judges for the SoA’s first in-venue ceremony since 2019. The winners of the twelve prizes will be announced on the night, taking home a total prize fund of more than £100,000.
Commenting on the awards, Lemn Sissay said:
Exit anger, enter kindness. Exit isolation, enter book shops. Exit fear, enter the imagination. Exit loss, enter hope. Exit the pandemic, and enter the Society of Authors’ awards ceremony.
Among the shortlistees, this year are 2021 Commonwealth Short Story Prize-winner Kanya D’Almeida, New Yorker cartoonist Will McPhail and poet A. K. Blakemore.
The annual awards celebrate the best literary works from authors at all stages of their careers – from poetry to novels to short stories. Previous years have recognised the early works of celebrated authors including Mark Haddon, Seamus Heaney and Zadie Smith.
Bookings are now open for both in-venue and online tickets. In-venue tickets will be £20 for members and £25 for guests. Online attendance is free. For more details on the day itself, and to book, see our SoA awards event page.
You can donate to the SoA’s Contingency Fund for authors by buying any of the shortlisted books from Bookshop.org
